Stacking machines for paper units



Dec. 7, 1965 R. F. YOUNG STACKING MACHINES FOR PAPER UNITS Filed Jan. 4, 1963 FIG.I

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Ii. lllllll ATTORNEYS INVENTOR REUBEN F. YOUNG I I' I United States Patent 3,221,902 STACKING MACHINES FOR PAPER UNITS Reuben P. Young, 6539 N. Bosworth Ave, Chicago 26, Ill. Filed .Ian. 4, 1963, Ser. No. 249,532 6 Claims. (Cl. 214--6) My invention relates to the feed of circulars, pamphlets, or other paper units in single order from a press or other processing source for use in groups. The press feed may be rapid, and the units may be stacked as delivered into groups of 25, 50 or more. In many establishments stacking is done by hand. Where machine means have been provided for this purpose the mechanism was complicated and spread over a considerable area, using extensive floor space.

In view of the above situation, it is the main object of the present invention to provide a stacking machine which eliminates the need of manual labor or attention, and which is geared to suit any speed of the unit feed.

Another object is to provide a machine of the above character which is rotary and has an automatic control for limiting the height to which groups of the units may be stacked.

A further object is to provide a control for receiving a partial number of units at a height close to the unit delivery zone, making room for an additional number of units by lowering the stack of original ones.

An additional object is to design the novel machine with few parts, and so compactly as to occupy a minimum of floor space.

A better understanding of the invention may be gained by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the machine;

FIG. 2 is a section thereof on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a mechanism for pushing a stack of paper units onto a departing conveyor.

Referring specifically to the drawing, denotes a conveyor leading from a printing or other source of paper v units, and designated to deliver them in single succession.

The stacking machine is located immediately behind the delivery zone of the conveyor 10, and rests on a base 12. The latter has a pair of standards 14 between which is a rotor journaled for free rotation. The rotor is composed of a pair of vertical discs 16 and 17 which are spaced from each other. The standard 14 has a bearing 14a to journal the spindle 16a of the disc 16 for rotation; and the standard 15 has a similar bearing 15a to journal the spindle 17a of the disc 17 likewise. However, the bearing 14a is near the right-hand edge of the standard 14, while the bearing 15a is near the left-hand edge of the standard 15, disposing the discs of the rotor in staggered position, as seen in FIG. 1.

The discs 16-17 are of star shape and formed marginally with a circular series of tapered arms 16b and 17b. This arrangement places the points of each pair of arms 16b and 17b diagonally in respect to a platform 20 disposed between them.

Each platform 20 is made with downbent side flanges 20a, the ends of these being enlarged to form front and rear pairs of ears 20b and 200, each pair perforated in transverse registration. A pin 16c passes from the point of each arm 16b through the ears 200 for pivoting the rear portion of the platform 20 from the arm 16b; and a similar pin 17c passes from the point of each arm 17b through the ears 20b for pivoting the frontal portion of the platform from the arm 17b.

By engaging the pins 160 and 17c as described, the platforms connect the discs 16 and 17 for joint rotation. Also, the platforms constitute parallel links which lie in planes parallel to the direction in which the plates are offset. If the direction were horizontal, all the platforms would be horizontal and remain so at all points in the rotation of the rotor 16-17. However, the purpose of the invention requires that the platforms have a tilt from front to rear, and this is procured by setting the bearing 14a of the disc 16 a short distance below the bearing 15a of the disc 17, as seen in FIG. 1. This setting causes the giiection of the platforms to the tilted positions shown in The rotor 16-71 is driven with a stop-motion in the direction of the curved arrow in FIG. 1. The drive means comprise a motor 22 from which a reduction drive 24 leads to a wheel 25; and a connecting rod 26a rises from a crank pin 26 on the wheel to the region of the spindle 16a. Here the drive is imparted step-by-step from the connecting rod to the spindle through the agency of a pawl 27 and ratchet wheel 28.

It has been mentioned that the conveyor 10 delivers the paper units in single succession. With the upper platform 20 at the left (as seen in FIG. 1) in receiving position rearwardly of the conveyor, the latter may be operated at a speed to deposit the paper units 30 in rapid succession on the platform, whereby to accumulate halfsay, 25of the required stack to the level of the upper conveyor run. The platform has an upbend 20d at the rear to form a backstop for the accumulating paper units.

It is noted that the rotor has six platforms. However, the ratchet wheel 28 has 12 teeth, so that the platforms advance only half the distance that they are spaced every time the pawl 27 draws on the ratchet wheel. When half of the stack has accumulated on a given platform, the drive of the rotor as just mentioned lowers the platform with the accumulating stack a suflicient distance to receive the remaining paper units from the conveyor. The next action of the gearing places the next platform in the order of rotation in receiving position behind the conveyor, repeating the aforesaid operation. Each platform bearing a full stack of paper units descends to a level where the stack may be removed-during the stationary interval of the platformfor tying or wrapping into a bundle.

A mechanism is provided at the lower level for pushing the stack of paper units onto a departing conveyor 32. The mechanism is shown in FIG. 3, and involves a pair of pusher arms 35 which are normally behind the stacking zone of each platform, or in front of the backstop 20a. The arms 35 have gear-rack bases 37 with which a pair of pinions 38 mesh, these being carried by a shaft 39. The latter is driven by a motor 39a when a stack of paper units is to be pushed off the platform, this being done by the advance of the pusher arms 35; and slots 202 in the platform form clearances for the arm bases 37 during the movement referred to. The pushing operation may be induced by a suitable control, such as a spring switch 40 tensioned by the arms of the rotor 16, as indicated in FIG. 1.

It will now be apparent that the novel stacking machine is geared to co-operate with a paper unit conveyor which delivers units at a rapid rate, whereby to build up the required stacks of units at frequent intervals and without need of manual assistance. Further, the stacking machine is made of few parts and so compactly as to occupy a minimum amount of floor space.

I claim:

1. A stacking machine for fiat-type units deposited in successive order by a supply source, comprising a rotary collector with supports positioned at intervals to receive said units in stacking accumulation, said supports extending in a series along the periphery of the collector, and means to stop the latter periodically for accumulating a desired number of units on each support from said supply source, said collecting unit being a rotor having companion discs journaled on parallel axes to offset the discs laterally from each other, and said members being platforms interposed in peripheral succession between the discs, one end of each platform hinged to a pivot carried by one disc and the other end hinged to a pivot carried by the other disc, whereby to olfset such pivots and position the platforms at the same angle at all points in the rotation of the rotor.

2. A stacking machine for fiat-type units deposited in successive order by a supply source, comprising a rotary collector with supports positioned at intervals to receive said units in stacking accumulation, said supports extending in a series along the periphery of the collector, and means to stop the latter periodically for accumulating a desired number of units on each support from said supply source, said collecting unit being a rotor having companion discs journaled on parallel axes to offset the discs laterally from each other, and said members being platforms interposed in peripheral succession between the discs, one end of each platform hinged to a pivot carried by one disc and the other end hinged to a pivot carried by the other disc, whereby to offset such pivots and position the platforms at the same angle at all points in the rotation of the rotor, the position of the axis further from said supply units being lower than that of the other axis, wherebyto lend the platforms an incline in a direction away from said supply units.

3. A stacking machine for flat-type units deposited in successive order by a supply source, comprising a rotary collector with supports positioned at intervals to receive ,said units in stacking accumulation, said supports extending in a series along the periphery of the collector, and means to stop the latter periodically for accumulating a desired number of units on each support from said supply source, said members being platforms carried by the collector with an incline away from said supply source, a backstop on each platform, and pusher means carried by each platform for ejecting a stack of units from the same.

4. A stacking machine for fiat-type units deposited in successive order by a supply source, comprising a rotary collector with supports positioned at intervals to receive said units in stacking accumulation, said supports extending in a series along the periphery of the collector, and means to stop the latter periodically for accumulating a desired number of units on each support from said supply source, said members being platforms carried by the collector with an incline away from said supply source, a backstop on each platform, and pusher means carried by each platform for ejecting a stack of units from the same, such means comprising a backing member for the stack and slidable to advance the same, and other means to operate the backing member.

5. A stacking machine for fiat-type units deposited in successive order by a supply source, comprising a rotary collector with supports positioned at intervals to receive said units in stacking accumulation, said supports extending in a series along the periphery of the collector, and means to stop the latter periodically for accumulating a desired number of units on each support from said supply source, said members being platforms carried by the collector withan incline away from said supply source, a backstop on each platform, and pusher means carried by each platform for ejecting a stack of units from the same, such means comprising a backing member for the stack and slidable to advance the same, and other means underneath the platform to operate the backing member.

ing in a series along the periphery of the collector, and

means to stop the latter periodically for accumulating a desired number of units on each support from said supply source, said members being platforms carried by the collector with an incline away from said supply source, a backstop on each platform, and pusher means carried by each platform for ejecting a stack of units from the same, such means comprising a backing member for the stack and slidable to advance the same, and other means underneath the platform to operate the backing member, such other means comprising a gear rack base for the backing member, the platform being slotted to accommodate the rack base for sliding motion and allow access to it from underneath, and motor-operated gear means underneath the platform in mesh with said rack base.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,090,473 3/ 1914 Gullberg et a1 198-211 1,181,567 5/1916 Bredenberg 198-211 2,242,813 5/1941 Cook 198138 2,392,032 1/ 1946 Domville et al 271- 64 FOREIGN PATENTS 917,764 9/ 1954 Germany. 355,162 8/ 1961 Switzerland.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner.

MORRIS TEMIN, HUBO O. SCHULZ, Examiners.

I. L. JONES, R. B. JOHNSON, Assistant Examiners. 

1. A STACKING MACHINE FOR FLAT-TYPE UNITS DEPOSITED IN SUCCESSIVE ORDER BY A SUPPLY SOURCE, COMPRISING A ROTARY COLLECTOR WITH SUPPORTS POSITIONED AT INTERVALS TO RECEIVE SAID UNITS IN STACKING ACCMULATION, SAID SUPPORTS EXTENDING IN A SERIES ALONG THE PERIPHERY OF THE COLLECTOR, AND MEANS TO STOP THE LATTER PERIODICALLY FOR ACCUMULATING A DESIRED NUMBER OF UNITS ON EACH SUPPORT FROM SAID SUPPLY SOURCE, SAID COLLECTING UNIT BEING A ROTOR HAVING COMPANION DISCS JOURNALED ON PARALLEL AXES TO OFFSET THE DISCS LATERALLY FROM EACH OTHER, AND SAID MEMBERS BEING PLATFORMS INTERPOSED IN PERIPHERAL SUCCESSION BETWEEN THE DISCS, ONE END 